The language*, symbolism*, and content
of the Bible infuse all writing in the period, Shakespeare's
no less. There is a whole school of criticism* that
tries to show that the plays are deeply, even primarily,
structured by theological concepts.

Look, Th'unfolding star calls up the shepherd. Put not
yourself into amazement how these things should be; all
difficulties are but easy when they are known.

In this context, Hamlet is shown to be divided not only
between thought and action, but between Old and New Testament
teachings on justice and revenge: the Ghost expects life for
life, eye for eye (Exodus 21:23), whereas Christian teaching
starts with Saint Luke, "But I say unto you which hear, love
your enemies, do good to them which hate you . . . and unto
him that smiteth thee on the one cheek, offer also the other"
(Luke 6: 27), and Saint Paul, "Vengeance is mine; I will
repay, saith the Lord" (Romans 12: 19). Humans* were to be
patient; it was for God to exact vengeance.

Even the Ghost is confused. He enjoins Hamlet to "Revenge his
foul and most unnatural murder," but for Gertrude, he says
"Leave her to Heaven" (1.5.25, 86). No wonder Hamlet leaves
Claudius alone when he has the chance to kill him--as he is
praying.

Justice and mercy

These same passages urge that humans exercise mercy when
judging one another. That Shakespeare was acutely aware of
them is shown by the fact that the title of the one play that
is taken from the Bible, Measure for Measure, is
taken from the same chapter of Luke that is quoted above:

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged; condemn not, and ye
shall not be condemned; forgive and ye shall be forgiven .
. . for with the same measure that ye mete withal, it shall
be measured to you again. (Luke 6: 36-38)

The Old Testament has a passage on mercy that is echoed by
Portia. Her famous speech on the quality of mercy that
"droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven" (4.1.182-200)
closely follows Ecclesiasticus 25:19 ("O how faire a thyng is
mercy in the tyme of anguish and trouble: it is like a cloud
of rayne that commeth in the tyme of drought").

Footnotes

Biblical language

Look, Th'unfolding star calls up the shepherd. Put not
yourself into amazement how these things should be; all
difficulties are but easy when they are known.

(Measure for Measure, 4.2.207-10)

Theological Shakespeare

A notable example of this approach is Roy W. Battenhouse's
Shakespearian Tragedy: Its Art and Christian
Premises (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1969).

Supernatural confusion

Even the Ghost is confused. He enjoins Hamlet to "Revenge his
foul and most unnatural murder," but for Gertrude, he says
"Leave her to Heaven" (1.5.25, 86). No wonder Hamlet leaves
Claudius alone when he has the chance to kill him--as he is
praying.